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Ukraine was the destination of a recent trade mission conducted by NSR’s Dr. Clint Schwab, interim CEO, and Dr. Justin Fix, genetic programs specialist, on Oct. 2-9. NSR participated in the Ukraine Animal Farming tradeshow, hosting a booth along with partner Dnipro Hybrids, a Ukrainian swine company that has been utilizing purebred American swine genetics for several years.

Fix and Schwab met with representatives from the U.S. embassy in Ukraine to discuss establishment of a live animal protocol, allowing U.S. exports of live swine into the country. They also had valuable discussions with Ukrainian swine businessmen to learn more how to design and create genetic evaluation and service packages for international swine clients.

After the trade show, Fix and Schwab traveled to the VK&K farm, a swine farm that had ordered 500 doses of frozen American purebred semen, where they toured their swine facilities and had discussions about future business partnerships.

Genetic customers of Dnipro Hybrid discussing the functions

of the electronic sow feeders and group penning system

with NSR’s Dr. Clint Schwab and Vladimir Getman.

The team also visited Dnipro Hybrids farm to discuss the data extract and transfer process to facilitate the exchange of American sired pigs from Ukrainian swine farms, which will serve as the basis for implementing Ukrainian farms into an international genetic evaluation. They also toured the farm and learned about the genetics, production system and data management software.

Ukraine continues to be a developing market for U.S. swine genetics, and there is tremendous opportunity to create long-term relationships with integrated swine production systems there.

Calling it one of the “greatest victories ever for the U.S. pork industry, ” the National Pork Producers Council lauded last Friday’s congressional approval of the free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

“These trade agreements will be a boon for U.S. pork producers and for the U.S. economy and jobs,” said Doug Wolf, NPPC president and a pork producer from Lancaster, Wis. “Passage of these FTAs is one of the greatest victories ever for the U.S. pork industry.”

The Senate and House passed each of the FTAs by comfortable margins.

The deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, when fully implemented, will generate nearly $772 million in new pork sales, add more than $11 to the price producers receive for each hog marketed and create more than 10,000 pork industry jobs, according to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes.

“It was extremely important that we approved these FTAs now,” Wolf said, “because while these deals have languished for more than four years, our competitors have negotiated their own trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and the United States has lost market share in those countries.”

The U.S. pork industry was instrumental in getting the trade agreements approved, particularly the deal with South Korea. Last December when the United States and the Asian nation were at an impasse over trade in autos, the U.S. pork industry agreed to move back the effective date for when much of its exports enter Korea at a zero tariff rate. NPPC led the agricultural community in support of the FTAs.

“America’s pork producers are grateful to the Obama administration's trade team, including U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and to Congress for getting the trade agreements done,” Wolf said. “Now we call on the United States and these three FTA partners to get the agreements implemented ASAP. The longer it takes to implement, the more U.S. market share in these nations will be imperiled.”

Exports are vital to the U.S. pork industry, which last year shipped nearly $4.8 billion of pork, an amount that added about $56 to the price producers received for each hog marketed.

View President Obama's speech after signing the free trade agreements:

The National Swine Registry participated in a trade mission to South Korea from September 18-25, where they hosted a booth at the Korea International Livestock Expo trade show in Daegu, as well as conducted a joint seminar with the Korea Animal Improvement Association (KAIA). Dr. Justin Fix, NSR genetic programs specialist, along with Dr. Chad Stahl of Food Animal Consultation and Testing Services in Sheldon, Iowa, and Max Waldo and Ross Wollenburg of Waldo Farms in DeWitt, Neb., attended.

More than 100 South Korean swine industry members attended the joint KAIA seminar, held in conjunction with the trade show. NSR hosted several educational presentations, including a talk on improving meat quality, presented by Stahl, and an overview of the economic effects of not implementing a complete genetic program, given by Fix. Additionally, Fix and the swine general manager of the KAIA discussed the desire for research on a joint-genetic evaluation program.

Pictured (l to r): Mr. Baik of the Korea Animal Improvement

Association, Mr. Lee (KAPE), Dr. Chad Stahl and Dr. Justin Fix

discuss the Korean pork and beef grading system.

Fix and Stahl visited a commercial swine harvest facility to learn more about how carcasses are priced and what traits are desirable and rewarded. They had the opportunity to visit with South Korean swine professionals about the purchasing, harvest, and sales process of pork carcasses as well as the country’s meat inspection and grading service processes. The trade team also visited a Korean farm that has plans to construct a GGP/GP facility stocked with American genetics, hopefully in early 2012, and is interested in a long-term service agreement with NSR.

NSR will continue communications with Korean breeders who are working to restock after the country’s devastating loss of swine populations due to foot and mouth disease, and will continue to build market share of American purebred swine genetics in this country through America’s Best Genetics.

NSR announces the hire of Adam Dian of West Lafayette, Ind., to fill the newly-created position of software developer. In this position, Dian will collaborate with the various departments within NSR to develop web and server-based applications to meet the diverse needs of the organization.

Dian is originally from Roanoke, Ind., and graduated from Purdue University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics technology, specializing in web development and computer animation. While at Purdue, Dian was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and shooting billiards. He and his wife, Brittany, reside in West Lafayette.

The NJSA and four, purebred swine cutouts took their place among the blue and gold at the 2011 National FFA Convention, held in Indianapolis Oct. 19-22, with a booth at the National FFA Agricultural Career Show. NSR Director of Junior Activities Cally Hass was joined by NSJA Ambassadors Kyle Mendes, Calif., and T.J. Doherty, Wis., and NJSA Vice President Kaylee Miller, Ind., to promote NJSA, distribute information, and talk with prospective members interested in showing purebred swine. Visitors to the booth, sponsored by the National Pork Board, had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the four cutout showpigs. Photos of the event and all participating "showmen" are available on the NJSA Facebook page.

NJSA Wind Shirts are on sale for $30 each with $2 off shipping for a limited time. There are a variety of colors available along with adult and youth sizes.

Go to www.nationalswine.com and click the NJSA Store shopping cart on the NSR home page to download the order form and see what colors are available. You can also email or call me with your order at sarah@nationalswine.com or 765-463-3594.

Also don't forget to check out all the new NJSA apparel available this season. The winter show season and Christmas are right around the corner, stay warm with a new NJSA puffy vest, soft shell or fleece jacket!

Have you ever wondered what we do with the photos that we take at our events? Did you know they are available for you to download? Go to njsa.shutterfly.com and you can browse all the photos that we have taken at our events in 2011. The folders are full of photos taken ringside of members showing, top ten group photos, and candids. Take a look and see what you find!

Swine Farms: A Great Place To Work is the theme of this year’s Workforce Development Seminar set for Oct. 18 at the Country Inn & Suites, Mankato. The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker will be Bruce Vincent, the founder of Provider Pals and a nationally recognized agricultural advocate. Vincent’s opening talk, "So, You Want to Date My Daughter," looks at how understanding society’s environmental and animal husbandry concerns is critical to engaging the public.

At his afternoon talk, "With Vision, There is Hope," he will discuss how Americans are taught that getting your hands dirty at work is an unfulfilling career choice. Vincent will discuss why this outlook is risky for those who feed, clothe, and shelter humanity and why reversing this trend is important to workforce competency, and economic and environmental health.

Additional seminar speakers will be John Deen, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, who will discuss current swine care research; Darwin Reicks, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, who will provide information on swine barn filtration systems and filtered barn biosecurity practices; and Donna Rae Scheffert of Leadership Tools, who will discuss tactics and strategies for handling and preventing conflict.

Although the seminar is geared towards those who work in pork production, the speakers will provide beneficial information for anyone involved in livestock care and agriculture.

Preregistration is encouraged, although at-the-door registration will be accepted if space is available. The preregistration fee is $20 per person, if paid by Oct. 10. Registration at the door will be $40. Registration includes materials, lunch and refreshments.

The National Swine Registry is currently seeking candidates for the position of field representative. The successful candidate will cover the Southwestern and Western states and will represent the National Swine Registry and the National Junior Swine Association at various events and functions. This position will be involved with various functions of all NSR departmental efforts; however, frequent interaction with NSR Marketing and Communications staff will be required in serving as a liaison for breeders in their individual marketing efforts. The successful candidate will also play an integral role in the facilitation and development of NJSA events.

This position will require considerable travel and could involve as many as 125 nights away from home annually. Location is flexible within the designated territory, but access to a major airport would be advantageous.

A degree in animal science and a background in the purebred swine industry is preferred, but not required. The successful candidate should excel in communication skills and have the desire and ability to assist NSR and NJSA members reach their individual goals.

Application deadline: Nov. 4, 2011

Applicants must send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references by mail or electronically to: